ANZ STADIUM remains a possible option to host a preliminary final this year, if Greater Western Sydney earns hosting rights in its finals debut.

The AFL has confirmed it's yet to decide on a venue for a Giants preliminary final, should they beat the Sydney Swans in next Saturday's qualifying final.

"We haven't determined past week one just yet, that took enough work as it was, but we'd have to assess who the opponent is and then about the right capacity for that game," League fixture executive Travis Auld told AFL.com.au.

"We'll make that assessment as we get closer. 

"The options are you could play a game at Spotless or you could play at ANZ Stadium, obviously a different capacity between the two venues, we'll have to see who the opponent is."

If the Giants win they'll host Geelong, Hawthorn, West Coast or the Western Bulldogs in a preliminary final.

If the Giants lose they'll play the winner of Saturday night's encounter between Adelaide and North Melbourne, which Spotless Stadium would have adequate capacity for.

If the Sydney Swans win, they will host their preliminary final at the SCG. That game would be played on the Friday night of week three, an advantage the Swans have earned courtesy of the minor premiership.

The Sydney derby qualifying final marks a major milestone in the AFL's expansion into rugby league heartland.

"I think it's a dream of every supporter of AFL in New South Wales," Auld said. 

"All the schools, all those volunteers, who've put so much work into AFL over so many years in Sydney, this is probably for them more than anyone else.

Auld also defended the AFL's decision to force a bye this coming weekend, after teams rested significant numbers of players in round 23 last year.

"I think if you talk to the clubs and the players this morning I think they're looking forward to having a week off and recharging for week one," he said.

"We'll have a much fresher group of teams going into the finals."

He cautioned it was too early to judge whether the week off works overall.

"What we need to do is get through the whole finals series, not just make an assessment of this week," he said.